University Press Releases

SCU athletics posts banner academic success

Tuesday, Jun. 28, 2005

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -June 28, 2005-- An incredible 15 of Santa Clara University's 19 intercollegiate athletic teams recorded overall grade point averages of 3.0 or better and the department registered an overall average of 3.071 during the recent spring quarter, according to data compiled by the school's Department of Athletics and Recreation.

The data also showed that more than 59 percent of the department's approximately 345 student-athletes achieved over a 3.0 grade point average, while 101 student-athletes registered over a 3.5 during the quarter and 24 registered a perfect 4.0. Six members of the Bronco women's cross country/track team recorded a 4.0, while three from women's crew, softball and women's tennis each achieved the same feat. Two women's volleyball players also recorded 4.0 gpa's during the spring.

"The entire Santa Clara family takes a great deal of pride in the accomplishments of Santa Clara athletes in the classroom," said Director of Athletics and Recreation Dan Coonan. "It is wonderful to see this level of academic success, particularly in a year that had some many athletic highlights as well. I believe Santa Clara has carved out an enviable niche in the world of college athletics, with a solid record and reputation for high end achievement in both athletics and academics." During the 2004-05 academic year, more than 30 Bronco athletes were recognized for their success in the classroom. Women's soccer player Megan Kakadelas earned national and West Coast Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors, while men's soccer player Will Weatherly was named Academic All-America.

Competitively, Santa Clara won the school's first WCC Commissioner's Cup title as the league's top overall all-around athletic program. In addition, SCU won both the conference's men's and women's all-sports awards.

Student-athletes at Santa Clara University graduate at the highest rate in the West Coast Conference, the second-highest among Division I institutions in the state of California and recorded its second-highest percentage in the last decade according to the latest graduation rate report produced by the NCAA.

According to the report, SCU student-athletes graduated at a four-year average rate of 78 percent while the overall student body at the institution graduated at a slightly higher rate of 82 percent. The report examines a four-year rolling average ending with freshman entering school in 1997-98.

The freshman class that entered Santa Clara in 1997-98 graduated at a rate of 86 percent, which equals the institution's second-highest single-class rate since 1983 and is only one percentage point behind Stanford as the state's top ranking

Santa Clara's student-athlete graduation rate is considerably higher than the NCAA Division I average of 60 percent for student-athletes and the 71 percent average for Division I private institutions.